You’re training. You’re sleeping (sort of). You’re taking your vitamin D like a responsible adult. And yet every ride feels like you’re pedalling through porridge.
Last year was bad. Not missed-a-few-intervals bad, but proper life-got-in-the-way bad. Riding happened when it could, not when it should. I squeezed in a few races, stole the occasional weekend, maybe five in total, and consoled myself that there are such summers.
Cyclists love training blocks. Base, build, peak. All neatly labelled, colour-coded, and uploaded to a calendar. What rarely makes the plan, though, is rest as a deliberate phase. Not an easy week. Not a reduced TSS target. Actual rest. And because it isn’t measurable in…
Ah, spring races. A chance to prove your winter training paid off. Or at least, that your bibs still fit. But the emotional journey from clicking “register” to standing at the start line is… dramatic. Some might say operatic. We say: textbook self-sabotage with cleats.
If you feel slow on the bike in winter, you are not alone, and you are not suddenly out of shape. The cold changes how your body, your bike and even the road behave. Let’s take a closer look at why winter riding feels so…
You’ve emerged from the end-of-year glow with a belly full of roast potatoes and a head full of dreams. This is it. You’re going to ride consistently. Maybe even train. Maybe even stretch after rides instead of just collapsing onto the carpet like a haunted…
Since you gained about 20,000 calories over the three days of Christmas, you may fancy a quick ride to remind your body that there are other things besides sitting in front of the table or the TV. Now, this post-Christmas ride is a bit tricky,…
When cyclists talk about injury prevention, the conversation usually revolves around training load, bike fit, strength work, or nutrition. New research suggests that sleep should be pretty high on that list, too.
Most cyclists first learn about maximum heart rate through the classic formula: 220 minus your age. It is simple, memorable and still widely used. Unfortunately, it turns out to be far less accurate than most people assume. Let’s take a look at what you should…
Training plans promise progress. Joy rides promise freedom. For years I’ve been trying to work out which one should guide my cycling. Over the years I’ve lived in both worlds. Is it possible to balance both at the same time?
